The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-08
He Strongly Urges that Ireland Should Be
Governed by the Same Laws That Control
Other Sections of the English Empire,
And Closes an Eloquent Address by
Moving Rejection of Balfour's Bill.
The Leipsic Trials Add to the Bitter Feeling
Between France and Germany-Prince
Ferdinand Chosen Ruler Of Bulgaria.
MIR. Gladstone Speaks in Ba]1alf of Ireland,
and Moves Its Rejection.

MIR. Gladstone Speaks in RaIlalf of ireland,
and Moves Its Rejection.
LONDON, July Tn the House of Commons,
tonight. when motion made for the third
reading of the crimes bill, Mr.. Gladstone, amid
prolonged cheers made counte motion that
the bill be read third time this-day three
roonths. Mr.. Gladstone said the bill was the
conservative alternative to home rule, and,
therefore, bore a different aspect from any ordi-
nary coercion bill. The old coercion measures
had been aimed at crime only. but this new one,
passing beyond crime. aimed at societies.
ICries OF Hear" 'hear"l Further. the
bill had been brought in without any
foundation such as underlaid all former
of exceptional crime. Mr.. Balfour had
disregarded all precedent requiring that the in
PRODUCTION of coercion measures be prefaced by
statement of exceptional crime. Mr.. Glad
stone main tanned that the increase of crime in
1886 1885. in view OF tae agricultural dis
tress in Ireland. exceedingly small. Com
pairing the official statements of the Tory gov
ernment in power in Ireland in 1885 with those
for the first five months in 1887, there was a
marked decrease in the amount of agrarian
crime. Yet in 1885 they had refrained from in
PRODUCING coercive measure from motives of
policy. comparison of past and present
statistics afforded no shadow of justification for
the present measure. Another contrast was
that past Parliaments had been nearly unani-
nous in asserting to coercion, while this bill
opposed by large minority in the
House and by majority of the
people of the country-a majority that not
likely to diminish [Cheers.l If Parliament re-
tanned any regard for the traditions of liberty
and party usaees. the measure would be aban-
doned. What could they urge to warrant such
invasion Of the peoples libertesf While resent
ing the imputatiou that the Liberals had done
the same thing, he would admit that past meas
ures bad been failures Among the differences
between the past and the present was the extra
ordinary proposal making the Viceroy master of
the whole law and the right of association. In
the present century such proposal was an out
rage upon every principle of public duty More
over, new offenses were created under
the measure The Attorney general for Ire
land has admitted. and it was too late
to deny. that tho bill aimed at the
suppression of exclusive dealings That was
far more pardonabe in the weak and poor man
than in the rich and powerful, but it the ex-
elusive dealings OF the poor against the strong
at which the bill aimed If a new crime was
created the measure for its suppression should
operate impartially. ICheersl The government
did not care to lift finger in defense of the
suggestion that it apply to England provision
such it forcing upon Ireland He con-
tended that the government bound to ex-
tend to the occupiers of land in Ireland a per-
feet equality with English trades unions as
regards the rights and practices enjoyed by the
latter. among which combination and exclusive
dealing sanctioned. AS the bill stood,
if an Irshman joined an association it
was for Mr.. Balfour to say whether
or not he became criminal by the act
[Cheers. In conclusion, Mr.. Gladstone said
that Ireland, after seventy years of oppression
and wrong. was in state of misery and wretch
edness [cries of "Hear."I In the whole British
empire, he said, there not square yard of
land which England held by force alone, except
in Ireland. where force employed. EN-
cheers from the Irish benches.l Ire-
land was held by mastery. but the government
refused to learn that mastery involved response
bility ICries of "Hear."l They knew that the
whole literature of the warld was against them
lcries of "No."l He challenged the government
to mention any authority who had reviewed the
relations between England and Ireland without
arriving at homerule solution. The Tories
profess to be fighting for the union of the en-
pire, a fight IN which the Liberals joined. The
Liberals held that the charge of disunion was
ridiculous 1t was evident that the present
state of affairs could not last long. as Mr. Glad
stone believed that every day tended to bring
the Tories nearer to their doom.
Mr.. Gladstone then moved for the rejection of
the bill. amid cheers from the Liberal and Par
nelite benches.
Mr. Bafour. replying to Mr. Gladstone. first
referred to the charge that the government had
brought IN the bill as an alternative 70 Mr. Glad
al hnr0a.rula hat wa ha
case he said, he felt justified in saying that it
was sufficient to recommend the measure to the
acceptance of the House. The government was
mainly justified in introducing its proposals by
the state of social tyranny which had recent
ly been created in Ireand-a tyranny that at
tackled the rights and liberties of minorties and
most of those elementary principles without
which a country could never be prosperous. He
that crime was worse now IN Ireland
than in 1870. when Mr. Gladstone promoted
coercion He taunted Mr.. Gladstone with hav-
ng introduced, in 1881, arbitrary coercive
measure which enabled the Irish Chief
Secretary to inprison ANYBODY at will
been made between trades-unions and
societies whose object was the dismemberment |
Of the empire, and which were supported by |
foreigners. The trades unions might we'll be |
Indignant at a comparison of their honest, peace
Ful efforts with those of boycotters and political
,onspirators. Mr. Gladstone had made an insd
Gus and inaccurate statement regarding this |
-ear's crime in Ireland. Early in the year there !
vas visible improvement. but at the last quar-.
er sessions there were evidences of relapse.
William O'Brien praised Gladstone's brave op- /
position to the bill. Gladstone, he said, was the |
,reatest conquerer of Ireland: while others con-
uered by might of arms, Gladstone conquered |
" mere generosity of soul
After Major Saunderson and Attorney general |
had replied in behalf of the government, |
he debate adjourned
Gladstone's speech, though inevitably travel |
ng old ground, was remarkably close, |
ucid presentation of the arguments against the |
I'LL The style in which it was delivered was |
atchingly animated. and at times the whole |
Iouse reused with enthusiasm
William O'Brien' S reappearance in the House |
O. o-night was greeted with cheers. The Parnell-
les do not intend prolong the debate on the
rimes bill beyond to morrow. The government. /
Till have the usual majority.
John Morley's speech at Manchester. yester-
ay. withdrawing his opposition to the exclusion
f Irish members from Westminster and assent
ng TO the right of the imperial Parliament to
eto Irish parliamentary decisions. has been the